Retrieval of Precipitable Water over Land using Near Infrared Satellite Remote Sensing Data

[ABSTRACT] Retrieval of precipitable water (vertically integrated water vapor amount) is proposed using near infrared channels of Global Imager onboard Advanced Earth Observing Satellite-II (GLI / ADEOS-II). The principle of retrieval algorithm is based upon that adopted with Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer(MODIS) onboard Earth Observing System (EOS) satellite series. Simulations were carried out with GLI Signal Simulator (GSS) to calculate the radiance ratio between water vapor absorbing bands and non-absorbing bands. As a result, it is found that for the case of high spectral reflectance background (a bright target) such as the land surface, the calibration curves are sensitive to the precipitable water variation. For the case of low albedo background (a dark target) such as the ocean surface, on the contrary，the calibration curve is not very sensitive to its variation under conditions of the large water vapor amount. It turns out that aerosol loading has little influence on the retrieval over a bright target for the aerosol optical thickness less than about1.0 at 500 nm wavelength. A preliminary analysis of GLI data was also carried out and the retrieved result is discussed. It is also anticipated that simultaneous retrieval of the water vapor amount using GLI data along with other channels will lead to improved accuracy of the determination of surface geophysical properties, such as vegetation, ocean color, and snow and ice，through the better atmospheric correction